Multi-purpose quarters having a slidable cover with a pull-down bed

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose quarters (MPQ) enclosing a reading space with walls in order to enhance the reader&#39;s concentration. The MPQ is provided with a desk, a computer panel, bookracks and a bed. The MPQ has a box-shaped body and cover slidable relative to each other for movement between an open position in which the body and the cover are spaced from one another and form the reading space, and a closed position in which the body is enclosed within the cover. A pull-down bed is provided on the cover and forms a front wall of the cover when the MPQ is closed. The body has a vertically movable holding panel and an inclined desk which is vertically movable with the holding panel by a drive motor. The holding panel moves vertically within the body under the guidance of a plurality of channeled columns extending vertically at the corners of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a multi-purpose studyroom/bedroom referred to hereafter as a Multi-Purpose Quarters, (MPQ),which is a compact version of a room consisting of a bed, desk andcomputer table whereby space is minimized and concentration ismaximized. The MPQ comprises a box-like structure which when opened,acts as an individual study room, which doubles as a private computerroom, where noise and distractions are isolated. The front wall of thebox-like structure holds a pull-down bed which can be used when thebox-like structure is closed or open. Furthermore, the MPQ is providedwith left and right-handed bookracks. When not in use, the MPQ slidablyretracts to its original shape to maximize the space remaining in theroom.

BACKGROUND ART

Most people prefer to enclose their study area with walls in order tofacilitate study and concentration. Korean U.M. Application No. 91-9508of this applicant discloses an example of a box-like personal study roomconsisting of a desk, chair and bookshelves. However, this personalstudy room does not accommodate the other essential components of aroom, mainly a computer table or a bed, which remain in the room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a structurally improvedMPQ in which the above problems associated with the known personal studyroom are overcome and which encloses the reading space with walls inorder to facilitate study and concentration and which is provided with adesk, computer table, bookracks and bed.

In order to accomplish the above object, the MPQ provides an enclosedarea comprising a box-shaped body and a cover which are slidably engagedand relatively movable between an open position in which the body isspaced from the cover to form a work space therebetween, and a closedposition in which the body is enclosed within the cover. The body isprovided with left and right-hand bookracks. The body also includes avertically movable holding panel and an inclined desk panel whichvertically move by the rotating force of a drive motor through front andrear lifting wires. The drive motor is placed in a top section insidethe body, while the lifting wires extend from opposite output shafts ofthe drive motor and are connected to the panels. The holding panelvertically moves in the body under the guidance of a plurality ofchanneled columns extending vertically at the corners of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an MPQ in accordance with aprimary embodiment of the present invention, showing the slidable coverand body separated from each other;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side and plan views of the body, respectively, ofthe MPQ according to the present invention showing a mechanism forlifting a computer holding panel in the body;

FIG. 2C is an exploded perspective view showing the structure forbringing the channeled column and holding panel of the above body inslidable engagement;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the MPQ of the present invention when itis used as a reading room;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the MPQ of the present invention when itis used as a bed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a slider unit whichallows the two parts of the body to open and close;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an MPQ in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention, showing the slidable coverand body separated from each other;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure for lifting andinclining the panels of the MPQ of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged detail of the structure in FIG. 7:

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the desk and holding panels of anMPQ in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an MPQ according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Multi-purpose Quarters, according to the primary embodiment of thepresent invention, includes a box-shaped body 10 which is openedforward. The body 10 has a plurality of channeled columns 11 (FIG. 2).The columns 11 extend vertically in the body 10 in spaced, parallelrelation at both side walls of the body 10 as best seen in FIG. 2B.Channels 11a in the columns 11 are directed inwardly (FIG. 2C).Horizontally arranged in spaces defined between the columns 11 and theside walls of the body 10 are a plurality of vertically spaced shelves12 forming bookracks. The body 10 also includes a horizontal desk panel13 (FIG. 7) which is vertically movable in the body 10 in order toadjust its height. A front edge of an inclined desk panel 13A is hingedto the front edge of the vertically movable horizontal panel 13 as bestseen in FIG. 7. (It can also remain loose). The inclined desk panel 13Ais thus vertically movable along with the horizontal panel 13 in thebody 10 and it is adjustable in inclination relative to the horizontalpanel 13. The body 10 further includes a vertically movable holdingpanel 14 which is horizontally placed above the inclined panel 13A andis used for holding a computer and peripheral equipment thereon. Thevertical movement of the holding panel 14 may be automatically performedby an additional lifting means which is started by a control switch (notshown). An example of the lifting means for vertically moving the panel14 is shown in FIG. 2A and includes a drive motor 15 which ishorizontally placed in the rear top corner in the body 10. A pair ofshafts 15S horizontally extend from both ends of the motor 15. A pair oflifting wires 15W extend from each shaft 15S.

One lifting wire i.e. a front wire 15W extending from each shaft 15Spasses over a roller 15F prior to being connected to one front corner ofthe holding panel 14. A roller 15F is mounted at each front cornerinside the body 10. Meanwhile, the other lifting wire i.e. a rear wire15W extends vertically down from each shaft 15S and is connected to arear corner of the holding panel 14. As shown in FIG. 2C, a guide roller14R is mounted at each bottom corner of the holding panel 14. The guiderollers 14R of the panel 14 are movably received in the channels 11a ofthe columns 11 respectively, thereby being guided by the columns 11during the vertical movement of the panel 14 in the body 10.

A box-shaped cover 20 slidably engages the body 10 and the body 10 andcover 20 are relatively movable towards and away from one anotherbetween an open position in which the body 10 is spaced from the cover20 as shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position in which body 10 is enclosedwithin the cover 20 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In order to achieve theslidable engagement of the body 10 with the cover 20, slider units 30are provided at the top plate and the lower portions of both side platesof the body 10, (FIG. 5). In the present invention, the sliding motionof the cover 20 relative to the body 10 using the slider units 30 may beeither manually or automatically achieved. The automatic operation forsliding the cover 20 relative to the body 10 will be achieved by a drivemeans (not shown). Each slider unit 30 comprises a first longitudinalchanneled guide 31 mounted on the body 10 and a second longitudinalchanneled guide 32 mounted on the cover 20 in correspondence with thefirst guide 31 as shown in FIG. 5. Each slider unit 30 also includes aretainer 33 which allows the cover 20 to slide on the body 10. Theretainer 33 includes a plurality of bearings which engage the first andsecond guides 31 and 32 to provide the sliding motion of the cover 20 onthe body 10. Each slider unit 30 further includes longitudinal supports34 which are fixed to the retainer 33 by a pair of connectors 35 and 36.The supports 34 are received in the channels of the first and secondguides 31 and 32 respectively, thereby supporting the retainer 33.

An openable door 21 is mounted on each side of the cover 20 to formopenable side walls for cover 20, while an openable bed 22 is pivoted tothe cover 20 to form an openable front wall of the cover 20. Both theopenable doors 21 and the openable bed 22 enclose the body 10 when theMPQ is in closed state. The bed 22, which is pivoted to the cover 20,has a folding front support 22L and a pair of gas springs 22S. Each gasspring 22S extends from each pivot joint between the bed 22 and thecover 20 to the bottom of the bed 22. Of course, it should be understoodthat the folding motion of the bed 22 may be achieved by a typicalmotor-driven mechanism instead of the above gas springs 22S.

In the present invention, the body 10 and cover 20 are preferablyprovided with sound-absorbing and sound-intercepting materials. Thecover 20 is also provided with elongated soundproofing members 20A (FIG.4) mounted on the cover 20 where the cover 20 meets the edges of the bed22 thereby absorbing external sound that would otherwise infiltrate intothe MPQ through the gaps between the cover 20 and the bed 22. Inaddition, it is preferable to mount a handle (not shown) on a givenportion of the cover 20 for slidably moving the cover 20 relative to thebody 10. A roller R (FIG. 6) is mounted on each front bottom corner ofthe cover 20 in order to allow the cover 20 to perform a smooth slidingmotion relative to the body 10. After fully separating the cover 20 fromthe body 10, the user opens a side door 21 and enters the MPQ, forexample, to read a book on the desk panels 13 and 13A. In this case, theuser is isolated from the rest of the room and the MPQ is used as areading room in which study and concentration are facilitated.

FIG. 6 shows an MPQ in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Therein, most of the elements of the MPQ remain the same asdescribed for the MPQ of the primary embodiment of FIG. 1. However, thecover 20 of this embodiment is open at both sides, thereby becoming anopen-type cover. In order to selectively close the open sides of the MPQwhen it is in use, a pair of doors 10D that close the body 10, areopened at a 90° angle to both front side edges of the body 10. Whenusing this embodiment, the doors 10D of the body 10 are opened afterpulling the cover 20 away from the body 10, thereby closing both sidesof the cover 20. When the MPQ is not used, the cover 20 is pushed overthe body 10 after closing the doors 10D of the body 10, therebyachieving a compact closed configuration. In accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 9, an openablefront door 23 is provided on the cover 20 in replacement of the bed.

In addition, as seen in FIG. 8 the inclined desk panel 13A is providedwith movable side sections A and B, which pivot up or down, at bothsides of a middle section. The side sections A and B of the panel 13Acan be pivoted relative to the middle section within a predeterminedangle. A drawer 13B is provided under the horizontal desk panel 13 andis used for storing the user's personal belongings. In order to form astorage space C between the horizontal and inclined desk panels 13 and13A, a pair of rubber legs D of predetermined length extend from thefront edge of the inclined panel 13A.

A turntable E is provided at the top center of the inclined panel 13Aand selectively rotates an article placed thereon. The inclined deskpanel 13A is also provided with an adjustable book holder F. The holderF, which is placed at the upper portion of the inclined panel 13A, canmoves relative to the user, forward, backward, upward and downward. Thefront center of the horizontal desk panel 13 is partially cut awaythereby forming an arcuate cutout G. The horizontal desk panel isfurther provided with pull-out panels D on either side for increasedefficiency whereby the user may use them either as arm rests or as extrasurface areas for books. These panels slide in and out on a system ofsliders similar to those in FIG. 5. A dictionary holder H is provided ateach front corner of the horizontal desk panel 13. The height of thedictionary holders H can be adjusted. In addition, the dictionaryholders H can be turned to the left and right in order to adjust theirposition relative to the user.

In the MPQ, according to the present invention, the inclined desk panel13A is held by the rear lifting wires 15W passing at the rear corners ofthe holding panel 14. The panel 13A may be provided with the rubber legsD extending from the front edge of the panel 13A as shown in FIG. 8.Alternatively, the front edge of the panel 13A may be pivoted to thefront edge of the horizontal panel 13 as shown in FIG. 7. At the rearcorners of the inclined panel 13A, the rear lifting wires 15W extendingfrom both shafts 15S of the motor 15 and passing at the rear corners ofthe holding panel 14 are connected to the panel 13A using adjustablebosses 15Y respectively. Thereby, the inclination angle of the panel 13Arelative to the horizontal panel 13 can be adjusted by the bosses 15Y.The inclined panel 13A is vertically moved along with the holding panel14 by the rotational drive of the motor 15 transmitted thereto throughthe lifting wires 15W. The inclined panel 13A is preferably used as adrawing board.

In order to use a computer and its peripheral equipment on the panel 14of the body 10, the user operates the control switch (not shown) torotate the motor 15 in the normal direction. When the motor 15, in thestate of FIG. 2A, rotates in the normal direction, the lifting wires 15Wof the opposite shafts 15S of the motor 15 are unwound from the shafts15S, thereby lowering both panels 13A and 14 under the guidance of thechanneled columns 11. The front lifting wire 15W extending from eachshaft 15S passes over the roller 15F prior to being connected to onefront corner of the holding panel 14. Meanwhile, the rear lifting wire15W extending from each shaft 15S extends vertically downwards from theshaft 15S to be connected to one rear corner of the holding panel 14.Each channeled column 11 may be provided with top and bottom limitswitches (not shown) to limit the vertical movement of both panels 13Aand 14. After using the computer, the panels 13A and 14 with thecomputer and its peripheral equipment are lifted by the reverse rotatingforce of the motor 15 and maintained in the upper section of the body10.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the guide rollers 14R mounted at the bottom cornersof the holding panel 14 are movably received in the channels 11a of thecolumns 11 respectively, thereby being guided by the columns 14 duringthe vertical movement of the panel 14 in the body 10. It should be notedthat the designated space for panel 14 can be modified to includeseveral panels of various sizes rather than the one large piece. Suchpanels would be operated by the same kind, but smaller, motors andpulleys similar to those used for panel 14. Furthermore, the holdingpanel 14 can be furnished with all or part of the amenities andaccessories as horizontal panel 13 (e.g. inclined panel (13A), drawer(13B), dictionary holder (H), book holder (F), drawer (13B) andturntable (E). A keyboard holder 14A, shown in FIG. 8, is attached tothe underside of panel 14, so that it can be slidably moved out when inuse and pushed back under panel 14 when not in use. Alternatively, thekeyboard holder 14A can be hinged to the front edge of the computerholding panel 14.

Of course, it will be understood that all the various embodiments of theMPQ will accommodate lighting and ventilating equipment, heating andcooling means, an audio speaker system, control switches, powerreceptacles, a folding mirror and locking means without affecting thefunction of this invention.

As described above, the present invention provides a multiple purposequarters which generally comprises two parts, that is the body and thecover which are in slidable engagement with each other. The MPQ may beused as an isolated room for reading, computer operation, drafting, andstudying. For musicians the MPQ, with its soundproofing, can double as astudio. When the MPQ is not in use, the cover is fully engaged over thebody thereby achieving a compact configuration and saving space.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope of spirit of the invention asdefined in the accompanying claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-purpose quarters comprising a box-shapedbody (10) and a box-shaped cover (20) slidably engageable with said body(10) through sliding units (30) which provide movement of said body andsaid cover towards and away from one another,said body (10) and saidcover (20) forming an isolated space therein when the cover (20) ismoved away from said body (10), said cover (20) being provided with apull-down bed (22) hinged thereto which forms a front wall of said cover(20) when said bed (22) is folded into the cover (20).
 2. Themulti-purpose quarters of claim 1, wherein said cover (20) is providedwith a pair of doors (21) at both lateral sides thereof.
 3. Themulti-purpose quarters of claim 2, wherein said body (10) comprises avertically movable holding panel (14) and means for vertically movingthe holding panel (14).
 4. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 3,wherein said means for vertically moving the holding panel (14)comprises:a drive motor (15) supported in a rear top corner of said body(10); said motor having shafts (15S) extending at both ends of saidmotor (15); and front and rear lifting wires (15W) extending downwardsfrom said shafts (15S) for drivingly connecting said motor to saidholding panel.
 5. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 4, wherein saidbody (10) includes a horizontal desk panel (13) placed under saidholding panel (14) and an inclined desk panel (13A) pivotably connectedto said horizontal desk panel (13A) at a front edge of said horizontaldesk panel, said inclined desk panel (13A) having rear corners connectedto the lifting wires to move the inclined desk panel (13A) along withthe holding panel (14).
 6. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 1,wherein each of said sliding unit (30) includes:a first longitudinalchanneled guide (31) mounted on a surface of said body (10); a secondlongitudinal channeled guide (32) mounted on an inner surface of saidcover at a location corresponding to said first guide (31); a retainer(33) having a plurality of sliding bearings engaging said first andsecond channeled guides; and a support (34) received within said firstand second channeled guides (31, 32), said support (34) supporting saidretainer.
 7. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 1, wherein said coverhas lateral sides which are open, said body (10) including doors (10D)hinged to said body to close the lateral sides of said cover when thedoors (10D) are open to enclose said isolated space.
 8. Themulti-purpose quarters of claim 7, wherein said body (10) comprises avertically movable holding panel (14) and means for vertically movingthe holding panel (14).
 9. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 8,wherein said means for vertically moving the holding panel (14)comprises:a drive motor (15) located at a rear top corner of said body(10); said motor having shafts (15S) extending at both ends of saidmotor (15); and front and rear lifting wires (15W) extending downwardsfrom said shafts (15S) for drivingly connecting said motor to saidholding panel.
 10. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 9, wherein saidbody (10) includes a horizontal desk panel (13) placed under saidholding panel (14) and an inclined desk panel (13A) pivotably connectedto said horizontal desk panel (13A) at a front edge of said horizontaldesk panel, said inclined desk panel (13A) having rear corners connectedto the lifting wires to move the inclined desk panel (13A) along withthe holding panel (14).
 11. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 7 or 8or 9 or 10, wherein each said slider unit (30) includes:a firstlongitudinal channeled guide (31) mounted on a surface of said body(10); a second longitudinal channeled guide (32) mounted on an innersurface of said cover at a location corresponding to said first guide(31); a retainer (33) having a plurality of sliding bearings engagingsaid first and second channeled guides; and a support (34) receivedwithin said first and second channeled guides (31, 32), said support(34) supporting said retainer.
 12. The multi-purpose quarters of claim1, wherein said cover (20) is movable relative to said body (10) bothautomatically and manually.
 13. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 5 or10, wherein the holding panel (14) and the inclined desk panel (13A) arevertically movable both automatically and manually.
 14. Themulti-purpose quarters of claim 3 or 8, further comprising a computerkeyboard holder (14A) attached to a front edge of said holding panel(14).
 15. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 5 or 10, wherein saidinclined desk panel (13A) comprises a middle section and a pair of wingsections hinged to said middle section.
 16. The multi-purpose quartersof claim 5 or 10, further comprising a drawer (13B) under saidhorizontal desk panel (13).
 17. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 5,comprising a turntable (E) on an upper center area of said inclinedpanel (13A).
 18. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 10, comprising aturntable (E) on an upper center area of said inclined panel (13A). 19.The multi-purpose quarters of claim 17 or 18, further comprising anadjustable book holder (F) placed on an upper portion of said inclineddesk panel (13A), said book holder (F) being movable relative to theinclined desk panel (13A).
 20. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 17 or18, further comprising at least one dictionary holder (H) at a frontside of said horizontal desk panel (13), said dictionary holder (H)having a height and position which are adjustable.
 21. The multi-purposequarters of claim 17 or 18, wherein a front center portion of saidhorizontal desk panel (13) is partly cut away to form an arcuate cutout.22. The multi-purpose quarters of claim 17 or 18, comprising pull-outpanels at both sides of the horizontal panel (13).
 23. The multi-purposequarters of claim 1, wherein the body (10) is further provided with anumber of holding panels (14) to divide the space within the body (10).